Tuesday, April 19, 2011

A commenter here mentioned swizzle sticks, saying, "remember when bars put PLASTIC stirrers in drinks, not those tiny straws? They were very different, various colors, many had name of the bar. They're like jewels. Wish you'd write about them sometime."

This isn't a whole post about swizzle sticks, but I did come upon one--at Sardi's "Little Bar" in Times Square.

It's not the most exciting swizzle stick in the world. It's black, with a ball on top, and doesn't bear the name of the bar on its shaft. But it's a nice touch in a great place.

Sitting in the Little Bar on an afternoon, before the theater crowd rushes in, actual theater people come to drink. (The "theater crowd" comes to see a show, while "theater people" create the shows.) Four other drinkers share the bar with me on this day: a gray-haired producer, a gray-haired actor, a gray-haired writer of musicals, and a singer who looks old enough to dye her hair.

This is not the Dave & Buster's gang. It's an old-timers' place. Joyce Randolph, the last living Honeymooner, has made it her regular place. And the bartender, Jose, has been handing out the swizzle sticks for 20 years.

The theater people drink while memorizing lines in bound scripts. They take typewritten scripts out of manila envelopes to show each other how the writing is coming along. They talk about languishing in industrials, doing dance arrangements in small productions, and recall trying to break into acting back in the day, when rent on a Central Park West apartment cost $80 a month.

And they give each other advice. As one says, "I was put here on Earth to run the world, and I do it one person at a time, but nobody listens to me."

Sardi's Little Bar is one of the last places in Times Square where you can drink and be in the real New York at the same time. McHale's was one of those places. There's still Jimmy's Corner. But the Little Bar is extra special--it's deep New York, old history, an oasis from the multiplying chaos of the city. There's "out there," and then there's "in here."

"How was St. Patrick's Day in here," the gray-haired actor asks the bartender (this was weeks ago now). "Was it crazy?"

For years, New Yorkers have written off Sardi's as a "just" a tourist haunt. The trick, as you discovered, is to drop in during the slow hours. Then Sardi's still feels like what it is: one of the Theater District's last surviving links to an older New York, and a good old dame of a place.

The food is pricey and nothing special, although actors can still eat from a reduced "Actors' Menu" by flashing their union cards.

I've had that Joyce Randolph article in my files ever since it appeared in the Times. It still touches me.

Practically the last oasis standing in the hell that is Times Sq. It's a mystery why Sardi's is still this good, but it is. José is one of our all-time favorite bartenders, a hard-working and elegant man. Last time I was in there we got to talking about what a tough time our President has been getting, and he looked like he was going to kiss me when he realized I came to praise Obama, not slam him.

This sounds like my kind of place! I wonder if those places that Anonymous got glass swizzle sticks are still there? I don't think I've ever seen a glass swizzle stick and now I must find one! Great post!

My father has a huge collection of swizzle sticks and cocktail napkins dating back to the 50s and 60s (from many cities)...they amused me as a kid, but now I'm thinking we ought to mount them under glass or something.

@Jeremiah - I'll contact my dad. I do remember many of the sticks and napkins being from NYC (and Chicago). He used to host happy hours where guests had the pleasure of picking out their swizzle sticks (and were told sternly not to break them).

J, back to matchbooks for a minute. In my collection, I have one from ARTHUR. Does anyone remember ARTHUR? Well before Studio 54 et al, there was ARTHUR, owned by Sybil Burton Christopher. It was the middle of the decade, the 60's were just beginning to swing. Girls wore short dresses and geometric haircuts. Wish I had a swizzle stick from there!

thanks Lisanne. to anyone who's putting swizzle sticks, matchbooks, napkins, etc., in the photo pool, please just drop me a line when you do. i don't look at the photo pool as often as i should and don't want to miss it. thanks.

Checked out Matchbook Museum via EVG. Once, in NYC, there were match books with: HELP STAMP OUT VD!More ephemera: a neighbor had shopping bags: JUDY BOND IS ON STRIKE. DON'T BUY JUDY BOND BLOUSES! Said the bags were once seen all over the city.

You can still get nice, heraldic-topped swizzle sticks in the King Cole Room at the St. Regis. Admittedly the prices are a bit stiff for just a swizzle stick, but you can nearly make a meal from their nut bowls--the macadamias alone.

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